When outgoing Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew's Moulmein ward was disintegrated (with his GRC dissolved) following the release of the electoral boundaries report in July, these were his famous last words.

Lui told the media:

“I’ve been really privileged to serve with a very dedicated team, really blessed, and I’ve benefited very much from their counsel, their hardwork, but most of all from their friendship,” said Mr Lui. “So I leave with a sense of sadness.”

Mr Lui said he had some ideas on the possible plans for him in the future, but now isn’t “the right time” for him to talk about it.

Lui then revealed on Tuesday that he has chosen not to stand for re-election in the upcoming polls, a decision which Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong reluctantly accepted.

Here are three quick observations following Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew's early retirement:

1. The Transport portfolio is a graveyard where PAP Ministers' political dreams die.

Who will take over the "poisoned chalice"? The transport portfolio has proven to be the last one held by all three people who took it on since 2001.

Lui's predecessor Raymond Lim served as the Minister for Transport from 2006 to 2011, before making way.

Lim's predecessor, Yeo Cheow Tong, held the role from 2001 to 2006, before resigning from Cabinet.

2. PM Lee Hsien Loong has become more decisive in allowing political office-holders handling hot-button issues to retire early. 

There were three Ministers involved in controversial policy or political decisions during the political term preceding the last election — Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan and Transport Minister Raymond Lim.

However, it took a watershed election in 2011 before they retired from the cabinet.

In fact, the three former Ministers waited out one full term in parliament before deciding to step down as MPs. At this point in time, only Mah has so far confirmed his retirement last week.

3. It is tough for a Minister-level MP to step down only after two terms.

In fact, many PAP MPs served the party for an average of two to three terms.

As The Straits Times noted, Lui "entered politics as one of the brightest stars of the 2006 batch of new PAP MPs and rose the fastest among his peers, becoming a full Cabinet minister in 2010".

None of the political officer-holders — Minister Grace Fu, Senior Ministers of State Josephine Teo and Lee Yi Shyan, as well as Minister of State Teo Ser Luck — from Lui's 2006 batch are likely to step down yet.

In fact, many of Lui's 2006 batch of 24 PAP MPs are still in politics, with observers speculating on the possible retirement of just a few two-term MPs (Hri Kumar, Alvin Yeo, Ellen Lee). Disgraced ex-Speaker of Parliament Michael Palmer was also part of the 2006 batch.

It is interesting, also, to note that Lui did not give any reasons for his early retirement.

[embed]http://media.zaobao.com.sg/ZBMEDIA/2015/luituckyew.mp4[/embed]

In an exclusive interview with Lianhe Zaobao, Lui said the transport portfolio is an "all-consuming" ministry in terms of time, energy, and focus. He then said he decided to "step away from politics".

In response to ZB's questions in the video, Lui added that his wife is "in very good health", stressing further that his early retirement has "nothing to do with family or health reasons" — which means it has everything to do with the stress of public life and perhaps the angry online mob.

Top photo from Lui Tuck Yew Facebook page.

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